THE word "passion" is a word of many meanings. Its original and literal meaning is "suffering." It is used in this sense in the expression so often seen, "our Lord's passion." It is used as synonymous with "emotion." Love, hate, fear, joy, grief, are called passions. It is probably more often used to denote vehement desire in a bad direction, such as hatred, rage, lust of concupiscence, etc. But in all these cases it is the product of the mind and flesh together. The flesh may possess inherited tendencies to sin; but God does not count them sin, nor will they ever issue in sin, if there is not within the mind something which is in harmony with the inherent tendencies of the flesh. But the soul renewed by divine grace, holding continual connection with God by living faith, will abhor those tendencies. The infirmities of "sinful flesh" are there, which make temptations real; but the soul is high above them, and overcomes them through grace. Sinful men have these inherited tendencies and weaknesses, and their heart, mind, or soul is in harmony with their flesh, hence they possess passions in the worst sense. When the flesh and soul agree, there is passion. When the soul abhors the tendencies of the flesh, and through grace rises above them, there is no passion. The tendencies of the flesh alone are but infirmities. Christ possessed like infirmities to man; He did not possess like passions.